New addition in an interview
© Imago
In the summer, RB Leipzig transferred 20 million euros to the Spanish second division team CD Leganés for the services of Yan Diomande. A high transfer for the 18-year-old Ivorer, who only moved to Europe in January 2025 and was previously a largely blank leaf. Already in the first games of the new season Diomande left a lasting impression. In an interview with the transfer market, he talks about his atypical career.
Diomande’s path from the Ivory Coast to Europe led over the United States. “In 2022 I played in the U17 national team, but was too young to be among the professionals,” explains the left wing. “Then I went to the USA to study there and play football. I played with some teams. I was at Colorado Rapids and Charlotte FC, but it didn’t work.” He was finally on the ball for the DME Academy and the Yulee Hornets High School, and in addition to titles with the team, also won awards as a player of the year.
The time in the USA was not as desired. “I just wanted to gain more experience. But it quickly became clear to me that it was not 100 percent the right thing for me. Football there is not yet the same thing as basketball or football.” Nevertheless, Diomande was able to gain something positive to the stations. “I was far from my family and it was difficult to live alone. I had to learn to control my emotions. Now I am more relaxed and can deal with it better to be far from home, and that helps me here at RB Leipzig.”
Diomande’s move to Europe: First steps in Leganés
In Europe, Diomande was still in demand, he completed a trial training sessions in England and Greece, among other things. In January 2025, one and a half months after his 18th birthday, he moved to Leganés. After three scorers in ten games, we continued to RB Leipzig. “I wanted to take the next step to switch from a smaller team to a larger team. I spoke to the sports director and the coach. We had some very good conversations. They convinced me of the project. They want to work with young players who have more quality and energy. For me it was the best option to come here.”
Diomande has been collecting 369 minutes of deployment so far this season, and he scored a goal in the first round of the DFB Cup. His qualities in the dribbling particularly made him aware of him. “In Spain, it is more about spending time with the ball, and here it is much more physical. I just had to take care of playing football in Spain, but here I have to go to the gym. You have to go more gas on the square. I go to the gym to get stronger,” he says in Germany.
“I am a high intensity player and I like to dribble,” says Diomande about his strengths. “I think I have the potential to become a good player. I have time, I am young. But I’m also impatient because I want to belong to top class.” And Diomande apparently knows what it takes to get there. “In my position, the most important thing is to score goals. However, I also have to work on my dribbling, my passports and defense and improve my teamwork. Nevertheless, the most important thing is to score goals. The top players score goals. But that is still coming.”
Diomande’s role models: from Mbappé to teammate Orbán
Although Diomande is an offensive player, he admires two defenders among his new teammates. “I like Willi Orbán, but also Castello Lukeba,” he explains. “We can challenge each other. They defend and that is good for the team. But they also challenge me in training what makes me a better player. I like that in them.” But attackers are also among his role models. “I think Vinicius Junior is the best player in comparison. As far as the mentality is concerned, Kylian Mbappé is my role model. I think you have to have a good mentality. I think if the heart and mind are strong, then overall you are strong.”
On the day of the interview, Diomande learned that he was first nominated for the Ivorian national team for the games against the Seychelles and Kenya. “It’s always nice to be in the first team,” he said. “I am proud, because that was my dream. A very big dream. I always wanted to play for my country in the A national team and today I’m there, I’m very excited.” There he meets ex-BVB professional Sébastien Haller and the Hoffenheim Bazoumana Touré.
Despite the 0: 6 clap on the first match day at Bayern, RB Leipzig made a good start to the season and took third place after six match days. “I want to play a great season for the team,” says Diomande. “Our goal is to qualify us for a European competition. We have a young team where there were many changes this summer. However, my primary goal is still the Champions League. I came to Leipzig to play in the Champions League. That’s why I’m here.”
Diomande waves rich market value plus at RB Leipzig
Diomande’s market value is currently EUR 1.5 million, but in the course of the upcoming Bundesliga update on October 14th, he will go up significantly. “I also think that you have to go at least 15 million here. RB paid 20 million, also relies on him, technically incredibly good, physically far. The fact that he still has to learn is of course, but for players in this category, the prices explode,” comments TM user “Vauxdvihl” in the market value analysis.
The past weekend showed that not everything runs smoothly for Diomande right away. At the chasing duel at Borussia Dortmund (1-1), the youngster was only on the bench at the kick -off because he was late in the final meeting. Coach Ole Werner was gracious afterwards. “He has the clock for winter time,” said Werner with a smile. “We don’t want to make a big deal of it.” Diomande was only substituted in the 67th minute. “The boy arrived very well with us,” said Werner. “We will have a lot of fun with him.”
German translation: Jannek Ringen (original by Manuel Veth)